The Tri-Colored Bumble Bee goes by many common names, but its color contrast always elicits the same reaction: curiosity.

While most bumble bees adhere to the typical yellow/black coloration, this particular species has a flourish of bright orange-red on the abdomen. The rich color is intense enough to be noticed by observers at a good distance. The abdominal color pattern is the same for each individual: one band of yellow, two orange-red, another yellow and then two bands of black. Another part of their body that may look orange are the pollen baskets on their hind legs, for these bumble bees collect it and make honey, just like the much smaller honeybee. Pollen grains determine the color of the baskets so they will change color depending on what type of flower the bumble bee is collecting from.

Nests are made in the ground and are lined with honeypots. Workers collect pollen and bring their filled pollen baskets back to the nest where the pollen is made into honey. Larvae are fed honey until they develop into adults. Adults drink nectar and may also eat honey in seasons of nectar scarcity. Drones also exist in this species, providing mates for the queen. Only newly developed queens will survive the winter. In spring, she will lay her fertilized eggs and populate her nest with more workers and drones.

Tri-Colored Bumble Bees can be found in gardens, parks, open fields and meadows where they will forage for pollen. They are most active in the summer months.

Antennae: Ants and Bees both have a pair of antennae on the head that senses their surroundings.

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Head: The head contains the insect's compound eyes, antennae, and mandibles.

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Thorax: Contains various vital parts such as the aorta and nervous system.

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Abdomen: Contains various organs including the heart, gut, venom glands, and anus.

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Legs: Ants and Bees have three pairs of legs attached to the thorax (center-body section).

NOTE: Ants, Bees and Wasps are part of the Hymenoptera order because they share many similarities.

Territorial Reach (A-to-Z)

Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed below as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections below indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.

The map below showcases (in red) the states and territories of North America where the Tri-Colored Bumble Bee may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data can be useful in seeing concentrations of a particular species over the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some species are naturally confined by environment, weather, mating habits, food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most, or all, of North America.